Season 14 • Episode 1104

Does Legalizing Marijuana Affect Alcohol and Other Drug Use?

Sep 11, 2026

13:03

Health Policy Opioid Crisis Global Health Public Health Cannabis & CBD

Episode Description

About this episode:

New research examines the relationship between the legalization of medicinal or recreational cannabis and patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and opioid use. In this episode: Lead author of the study, Sarah Windle, explains what her team's systematic review, published in the Milbank Quarterly, can tell us about whether legal cannabis is being used to substitute or to complement other substances.

Guest:

Sarah Windle, MPH, is a PhD student in epidemiology at McGill University.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Impacts of Global Cannabis Policy Changes on Substance Use: A Systematic Review of Quasi-Experimental Studies—The Milbank Quarterly
Here's how cannabis legalization affected tobacco, alcohol and opioid use: McGill study—CTV News
The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy—Public Health On Call (February 2025)

Transcript information:

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